POV | One Last Chance at Expanded Gambling (1/2/14)

Most of you know I'm a big supporter of expanding gambling in Kentucky. Not because I'm a blackjack or slots addict, but because I'm tired of watching millions of Kentucky dollars finance big improvements in surrounding states while we pathetically attempt to stretch our own size four budget to cover a size twelve list of necessities.

The argument that we don't want to preyed upon by the big, bad gambling industry is disproven every day by the thousands of Kentuckians who willingly cross our borders to be "preyed upon" by casinos in more forward-thinking states. And since our legislators seem to have a pact to never, under any circumstances, engage in any meaningful tax reform, passing up this chance to inject significant new money into the Commonwealth without taking more out of our paychecks is madness.

State Senator Dan Seum and Representative Larry Clark, both of Louisville, will be spearheading one last effort during the upcoming General Assembly to get an expanded gambling referendum on the ballot next fall. And anyone who believes in the right of the people to decide important matters for themselves should support them wholeheartedly.

If the idea is defeated in such a referendum, so be it. The people will have spoken. But until that happens, we're allowing the personal moral standards of a few to stand in the way of our best chance at a solution to our economic dilemma. There's the real gamble.